NZ's economic recovery is progressing 'very slowly' and 'could yet be a prolonged process,' the Governor of the Reserve Bank says.

The Government has announced a $50 million plan to fight the kiwifruit vine bacteria PSA and expects total losses from infection of $75 million over the next two years.

The PSA disease has spread to kiwifruit orchards in the South Island and eradication is looking unlikely, Biosecurity Minister David Carter says.

Biosecurity Minister David Carter says hopes of eradicating the Psa disease are fading, with the number of infected orchards climbing.

The TPP was the only game in town during the APEC summit. That put John Key right in the thick of it.

NZ has secured a commitment from other countries negotiating a Pacific-wide free-trade deal that the final pact will be 'high-standard'.

Going from earthworks contractor to helicopter maker may seem an unlikely career change.

A fourth orchard in Te Puke has been confirmed with the kiwifruit vine-killing disease PSA. MAF is currently investigating 82 orchards in total.

Herald political columnist John Armstrong reports from Apec, where Prime Minister John Key has warned of the possibility of imminent "currency wars" if trade imbalances are not dealt with.

It was just another day at Zespri, until the phone rang and the jaw-dropping news came through.